Dustin Poirier has told talkSPORT that he would fight Conor McGregor ‘to the death’ if they ever clashed again.
Poirier also confirmed his position on transitioning into boxing to fight Jake Paul after retiring from MMA and leaving the UFC.
‘The Diamond’ joined Andy Goldstein and Jason Cundy live on talkSPORT’s DRIVE on Friday evening ahead of Super Bowl LIX, which takes place in his home state of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Poirier is the last person to step foot in the octagon with McGregor, having fought and beaten the Irishman twice in 2021.
He knocked him out at UFC 257 in January 2021 before McGregor broke his leg in the rematch six months later in what was the latter’s last fight to date.
When pressed on if he believes McGregor will ever make a return to the octagon, Poirier revealed he has little respect for his former rival.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” he told talkSPORT. “I was hopeful at first. I was like: ‘If anybody can come back from this injury it’s going to be this guy’.
“He’s got a strong mind, but the further it gets from that after those fights keep falling apart when he announces them.
“I’m losing hope. And he had a great matchup, I think Michael Chandler was an incredible matchup for his return.”
McGregor was scheduled to return to action in June for the main event of UFC 303, but pulled out of his bout with Michael Chandler after injuring his toe in sparring.
“No, of course not,” Poirier added when asked if he gets on with McGregor four years after they met in the octagon.
‘We will fight to the death if I see him…I don’t respect him as a man.
“As an athlete and a fighter, he’s done some incredible things. He’s very gifted and is special in that way when it comes to combat, but as a human being? Nah.”
‘The Diamond’ has since gone on to secure big victories over the likes of Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint Denis since his back-to-back victories over McGregor.
However, he failed to find any success in his two lightweight title bouts against Charles Oliveira, and Islam Makhachev most recently at UFC 302 last June.
Poirier’s only success at gold in Dana White’s promotion came when he beat Max Holloway at UFC 236 in April to secure interim status before losing his subsequent title bout to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The 36-year-old Louisiana native is currently in negotiations with UFC President White for his retirement fight, and Poirier revealed the bout may happen as soon as this summer.
“My next fight will be my last fight,” Poirier said, speaking on how the next few months may play out.
“I’m going to put the gloves down and I’m just hoping I will be able to do that here in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“You know, where I picked them up. I started fighting in Louisiana, I would love to retire here in Louisiana in the summer.
“Me and the UFC have been talking about this, they’re trying to get the state of Louisiana on board, New Orleans on board and we’re pushing for the summer so I really hope it comes together man.”
Many former UFC stars, such as Francis Ngannou and Anderson Silva, ventured into the world of boxing after leaving MMA.
Poirier is not against the idea, but added that he doesn’t believe a fight with someone like YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Paul could ever play out.
“I would love to,” Poirier said, speaking on entering the world of boxing after his retirement.
“I started mixed martial arts because I was boxing. I wanted to be a boxer and then I found mixed martial arts and transitioned into that. Started doing jiujitsu and stuff.
“But, when I do lay the gloves down I’m not going to try to find these celebrity matchups or influencer fights and stuff like that. When I walk away I’m done. I’ve been fighting for 18 years and when it’s time, it’s time.
“Of course I would [fight Jake Paul], but the guy is probably 50 pounds heavier than me. It’s just a big weight difference and also like I said I’m going to retire after my next mixed martial arts fight.”
White’s promotion returns this weekend for UFC 312 as Dricus Du Plessis defends his middleweight belt in a rematch with Sean Strickland.
Poirier has backed South African du Plessis to secure the victory in Australia, although asserted it ‘should’ be a close fight based on Strickland’s ‘crafty and awkward’ fight style.